Automatic filling machine



"Jan. 24, 1967 Filed May 21, 1964 AUTQMATIC FILLING MACHINE FIG-[1. {a32 R. -J.' WEIKERT 'INVENTOR.

ROY J. WEI'KERT ATTORNEYS 4 Sheets-Sheet '1 JaQn. 24, 1967 J WEIYKERIT3,299,606

AUTOMATIC FILLING MACHIN Filed May 21, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 R INVENTOR..93 ROY J. WEIKERT ATTORNEYS ,Jan."24,1967, v R. JJNEIKERT v 3,299,506

AUTOMATIC FILLING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet L5 Filed May 21, 1964 FIG-1O752 \I I56 158 I54 I40 15a INVENTOR.

ROY J. WEIKERT ATTORNEYS Jan. 24, 1967. R. J. WEIKERT AUTOMATIC FILLINGMACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 21, 1964 INVENTOR.

ROY J. WEIKERT ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,299,606 AUTOMATICFILLING MACHINE Roy J. Weikert, Covington, Ghio, assignor to GeneralFihns, Inc, Covington, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed May 21, 1964,Ser. No. 369,175 11 Claims. (Cl. 5337) through flexible tubes in thelower portions of the containers. Plastic milk containers withdisposable plastic liners are finding substantial acceptance becausethey provide a greater degree of sanitation than heretofore available inthe metal cans which are diificult to clean and subject to denting andcorrosion. Moreover, the conventional metal cans are often filled insuch a manner that the product is exposed to contamination and variousparts of the cans are handled manually which decreases the acceptabilityof these containers from a sanitation point of view.

This invention relates to apparatus for filling such plastic containerand disposable liner combinations, and particularly to containers of thetype shown and described in the United States patent application of RoyJ. Weikert, Ser. No. 315,055, filed Oct. 9, 1963, now Patent No.3,212,681, for Container Structure, and assigned to the assignee of thisapplication.

Accordingly, an important object of this invention is to provide aprocess and apparatus for automatically filling a milk container or thelike having the disposable liner type without requiring manual contactwith any product contact surface of the milk container during theopening, filling, or closing of the liner thus improving the sanitationof the milk container.

Another object of this invention is to provide apparatus of theaforesaid type which will engage and remove the cap of the plastic linerin response to simple manual movements and which will similarly replacethe cap on the liner once the filling operation is completed, andparticularly to provide such cap handling apparatus which performs itsfunction without manual contact with the cap, the cap seat, or any otherportion of the container which contacts the liquid being placed into thecontainer.

A further object of this invention is to provide apparatus of theaforesaid type which is simple in design and construction for dependableoperation and ease in cleaning, and further to provide a simplifiedprocess for opening and closing the cap of a plastic liner withoutmanually touching the liner or cap.

Another object of this invention is to provide apparatus for filling acontainer having a plastic liner therein which includes mechanism forremoving and replacing the cover, the moving of the fill mechanism intooperative relation with the inlet port, and the control of liquid flowso that only a predetermined amount flows into the liner after which theflow is terminated and the fill mechanism automatically retracted.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description, the accompanying drawings and the appendedclaims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of fill apparatus in accordance withthe invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the fill apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the container assembly which is used inconjunction with the invention;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the fill portassembly on the container;

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the fill port and its support bracket;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view through the cap remover;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the cap remover shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along the line 99 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is an elevation view partially in section showing the valvemechanism;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along the line 1111 of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is another sectional view taken along the line 1212 of FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken along the line 13-13 of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is an elevation view of a portion of the operating mechanism forthe fill apparatus;

FIG. 15 is a schematic illustration of the pneumatic system for theweighing apparatus; and

FIG. 16 is a schematic illustration of the electrical circuitry for theweighing apparatus.

Referring to the drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of theinvention is shown, FIGS. 13 illustrate a filling machine 10 inaccordance with the invention for automatically filling a container 11(FIG. 4) with milk or other liquids or semi-liquids. The apparatusincludes a cabinet 12 supported on the four legs 14 and a conventionalweighing scale 15 having a table 16 mounted in the cabinet fordetermining the weight of the container 11 and its content to indicatewhen the container is full, or has reached a predetermined weightsetting. A conveyor table 17 (FIG. 3) may be provided on either side ofthe scale table 16 to facilitate movement of the containers 11 onto andfrom the scale table 16. The scale 15 also includes an indicator 18mounted in a housing 21 and an adjustable balance arm 21 which moves theindicator 18 in response to vertical movement of the table 16.

The vertical support rods 22 are mounted on the right and left sides 23and 24 and the back 25 of the cabinet by the clamp members 27 which canbe manually loosened 1 and 2 with side tables added thereto;

for lowering or raising the rods 22 with respect to the cabinet 12 tomove correspondingly the control unit 31) mounted on the upper ends ofthe rods 22. The control unit 30 includes an aircylinder 31 which opensand closes the control valve 32 and both this valve and air cylinder aresupported on the control unit 30 by the L-shaped member 33. The inletpipe 34 is connected to the valve 32 at one end and the other endthereof is supported on the top of the support 22 and the back 25 of thecabinet 12 for connecting the valve to the source of liquids to beplaced into the container 11. The bracket 35 which has a horizontalU-shaped portion is secured on the vertical side wall 36 of the controlunit 30 for engaging the fill port assembly 37 which is secured to theliner 38 of the container 11.

Before describing the filling apparatus in more detail, the container 11and the various components thereof will be described. Initially it isnoted that the container is similar to that disclosed and claimed in theaforesaid copending application and per se forms no part of theinvention. In particular, as shown in FIGS. 4-6, the fill port assembly37 which defines the fill port 40 is mechanically secured in a fluidtight manner to the bag or liner 38 without the use of heat, and thisassembly includes a frustoconical hollow male member 42 which has threeparallel circumferential grooves 43 (FIG. 5) in the outside surface nearthe larger end thereof. A V-shaped groove 44 having a sharp downwardlyextending shoulder is formed above the uppermost of the grooves 43 andthe flange 46 is formed at the larger end of the member 42.

The port assembly 37 also includes a resilient cap 47 and retainer 48which are initially formed and placed onto the male member 42 together(.FIG. The retainer 48 is used to secure the assembly 37 to the liner 38by first cutting an aperture in the liner 38 having a diametercorresponding to the outer diameter of the central or mid-portion of themale member 42 so that when the member 42 is inserted therethrough, theliner 38 will cover at least the grooves 43. The integral cap 47 andretainer 48 are then forced onto the male member 42 causing thecomplementary friction rings or projections 50 to engage the grooves 43and lock the retainer 48 to the male member 42, with the liner 38 beingclamped tightly therebetween since the smallest diameter of theprojections 50 is slightly smaller, e.g., 7 inch, than the correspondinginner diameter of the grooves 43. In addition, the lip 51 on the innerperiphery of the retainer 48 engages the groove 44 and locks thesemembers together.

The cap 47 is separated from the retainer 48 as it is forced onto themale member 42 since the thin connection 52 therebetween is broken asthe outer surface 53 of the male member 42 forces the downwardlyextending tubular flange portion 55 of the cap 47 outwardly. Theadjacent portion of the retainer cannot flex to the same extent as theportion 55 due to the increased radial thickness in this area, and thusthe connection 52 is severed.

The cap 47 is locked in place on the smaller end of the male member 42by engagement between the external radial projection 57 on the upperperiphery of the member 42 with the complementary groove 58 formed atthe inner juncture of the side wall 55 and the top surface of the cap47. In addition, the cap is locked to the member by the downwardlysloped circumferential lip 60 on the top of the cap, which is tightlyreceived in the complementary groove 61 in the inner surface 62 of themale member 42 thus resisting inward deformation of the projection 57and providing a fluid-tight seal between the member 42 and the cap 47.

The port assembly 37 is releasably secured to the cover 64 of thecontainer 11 by engagement with the periphery of the keyhole slot 65(FIG. 4) formed in the cover 64 of the container to insure completedrainage of the associated bag by holding the liner 38 upright in thecontainer 11. The upper and lower flanges 67 and 68 extendcircumferentially around and radially outward from the retainer 48 forengagement with the periphery of the slot 65 to hold the port assembly37 in place. A shoulder 70 is formed intermediate the flanges 67 and 68for cooperation with the upper flange 67 to help guide the retainer 48into place.

Referring again to the filling machine 10, the U- shaped bracket 35includes a vertical mounting flange 72 (FIGS. 2 and 6) which is securedto the front surface 36 of the control unit 30 and a horizontal portion73 having the U-shaped slot 75 therein. The inner periphery 76 of theportion of the bracket which defines the slot 75 has a diametersubstantially equal to the outer diameter of the retainer 48 between theupper flange 67 and shoulder 78, and the inwardly extending projections77 in the bracket are provided in the bracket for insuring that theretainer 48 and thus the port assembly 37 will be held securely inposition. The distance between the projections 77 is less than the outerdiameter of the retainer 48 between the flange 67 and shoulder 70 butthe retainer 48 is sulficiently resilient so that it can be manuallyforced into and removed from the bracket 35. The peripheral portion 76of the bracket is reduced to a thickness equal to the distance betweenthe flange 67 and shoulder 70 for elimination of relative axial movementof the port assembly 37 when it is mounted in the bracket 35 and theremaining portion of the bracket is heavier for strength and rigidity.

The cap remover 88 (FIGS. 1, 3, 7, 8 and 9) includes an elongated body81 having a handle 82 on one end thereof and a pivot support 83extending outwardly from the body 81 opposite the handle 82. The pivotsupport 83 has the outer end thereof enlarged to accommodate theuniversal bearing member 84 which is suitably secured to the verticalpivot pin 85 on the top surface 86 of the control unit 38 for pivotalmovement of the cap remover 88 in a horizontal plane about the axis ofthe pivot pin 85, as well as in a vertical plane at a right angle to theaxis of the pivot pin 85.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the lower surface of the cap remover body 81is relieved between the parallel shoulders 87 and 88, including therelatively flat central portion 90 which is parallel to the top surface91 of the body 81, and the tapered portions 93 extend from the centralportion 90 to the opposite side edges 94 and 95 of the body 81. A bottomplate 96 having a configuration similar to the lower surface 97 of thebody 81 is then secured to the body adjacent the lower surface by thescrew 98 and the pivot support 83 both of which extend through flanges181 and 102 on the plate 96 and into threaded engagement with the body81. The vertical spacing between the central portion and the innersurface of the plate 96 is equal to or slightly greater than thethickness of the peripheral flange 1114 around the top of the cap 47.The spacing between the tapered portion 93 and the plate 96 graduallydecreases from a distance adjacent the edges 94 which is substantiallygreater than the thickness of the flange 184 to define an entrance slotfor easy engagement of this flange 104 by the cap remover 88. The plate96 has a curved slot 186 therein having a width slightly greater thanthe diameter of the cap 47 just below the flange 184 so that the capremover 80 can readily grasp the cap 47 as it is pivoted about the pin85. A narrow curved slot 188 may be provided in the body 81 above theslot 186 for use in removing caps 47 which have a flexible dischargetube 47a extending centrally from the top surface thereof, as shown inFIGS. 7 and 9.

The fill valve 32 is positioned in precise alignment directly above thebracket 35 so that, when the port assembly 37 is held in bracket 35 andthe cap 47 removed, the container 11 can be automatically filled, aswill be explained. The fill valve 32 is shown in FIGS. 10l3, andincludes a central support member secured to the L-shaped member 33which supports the valve in position. The air cylinder 31 is mounted onthe member 110 and includes a hollow body or cylinder 112 in which thepiston 113 reciprocates to move similarly the piston rod 115 whichextends through the lower end 116 of the cylinder 112. The spring 117 isinterposed between the upper end 118 of the cylinder and the piston 113to urge the piston toward its lowermost position, and a source of aircan be connected to the air cylinder through the port 120 whichcommunicates with a chamber 121 formed between the piston 113 and thelower end 116 of the cylinder 112. Thus the spring 117 normallypositions the piston rod 115 in its extended position, and when airpressure is connected to the chamber 121 the piston rod will beretracted into the cylinder 112.

Releasably coupled to the lower end of the support member 110 is anelongated tube 122 having a tubular inlet 123 extending therefrom forconnection to the inlet pipe 34 of liquid being handled by the fillvalve 32. The upper end of the tube 122 is connected to the centralsupport member 110 by a releasable coupling 125 which includes the pairof semi-circular members 127 held together at one end by the hinge 128.

The other ends of members 127 have the hooks 129 formed therein whichcan be locked together by the fastening loop 130 which is tightened intolocking relation by pivoting the handle 131 over center with the noseportion 132 in engagement with the one of the hooks 129. The ends of theloop 130 are connected to a nut member 133a mounted in slots 133b andhaving an adjustment screw 1330 cooperating therewith to vary the sizeand tension of the coupling 125. Each of the semi-circular members 127has the inwardly extending flanges 134 on the upper and lower edgesthereof which cooperate with the radially outwardly extending flanges135 and 136 on the member 110 and the upper end of the tube 122,respectively, so that when the members 127 are tightened in positionthis tube is rigidly secured to the support 110. It is also desirable toplace a rubber gasket between the flanges 135 and 136 for a fluid-tightseal therebetween.

An elongated valve member 138 extends axially through the tube 122 andthrough the apertures 140 and 141 formed in the support member 110 andin the upper end wall 142 of the tube 122 with the O-ring seal 144 beingprovided on the valve member 138 for sealing against leakage between thevalve member 138 and the end wall 142 of the tube. A releasable coupling145 is provided (FIG. 13), for securing the valve member 138 to thepiston rod 115 and includes a tubular bushing member 147 whichreciprocates on the lower end of the piston rod 115, and is urgeddownwardly by the coil spring 150 interposed between the shoulders 151and 152 on the rod 115 and bushing 147, respectively.

A snap ring 154 is positioned in a groove on the lower end of the pistonrod 115 so that downward movement of the bushing 147 beyond contact withthe ring 154 is prohibited. When the bushing 147 is moved upwardly, theballs 156 which normally ride in the exterior groove 157 in the valvemember 138 and the openings 158 in the piston rod 115, are allowed tomove radially outwardly from engagement within the groove 157 so thatthe valve member 138 can be withdrawn from the rod 115. Thus, byreleasing the clamp mechanism 125 and raising the bushing 147, the tube122 and valve member 138 can be quickly separated from the stationarysupport member 1141 for ease in cleaning of the equipment.

The lower end of the tube 122 is adapted to engage the male member 42 ofthe port assembly 37, as seen vin FIG. 10. That is, when the fill valve32 is lowered into operative relation with the fill port 37 the outerperipheral edge 160 of the tube 12 extends inwardly of the member 42 andhas a shoulder 161 thereon for fluid tight engagement with the innerperipheral edge portions of the upper or smaller end of the male member42 when the fill valve 32 is lowered into contact therewith. The lowerend of the valve member 138 has an enlarged head 163 thereon whichcooperates with the valve seat 164 on the lower end of the tube 138 sothat, when the head 163 is in its lowermost position, fluid flow throughthe opening 165 in the lower end of the tube 138 is prevented. Theentire fill valve is moved vertically by the L-shaped bracket 33 whichis raised and lowered by an air motor 166 (FIG. 14) mounted in thecontrol unit 30 for movement in the guide bracket 167, as will beexplained.

The control unit 30 is best described in connection with the operationof the apparatus, and therefore the sequence of operations required tofill one container 11 is set forth. It is first assumed that the supportrods 22 have been suitably adjusted with respect to the cabinet 24 forpositioning the control unit 30 a prescribed distance above the scaletable 16, and then suitable sources of electrical power and air pressureare connected to the control unit. The on-ofl switch 170 (FIGS. 1 and16) on the control box 171 is then depressed to close the switches 172and 173 in the conductors 174 and 175 so that the electrical system isready for operation. The light 176 in the conductor 178 indicates whenthe on-off switch 170 is in the On position.

A container 11 is first placed on the scale table 16 with the top 64open (FIG. 4) and the discharge tube 180 being sealed in the groove 181by the pressure sensitive tape strip 182. The retainer 48 of the fillport assembly 37 is then placed in the U-shaped bracket 35, as describedabove and then the cap remover is manually pivoted in a horizontal planeso that the flange 104 on the cap 47 slides into the slot wherein it isheld firmly. The cap remover 80 is then pivoted upwardly in a verticalplane, to first disengage from the male member 42 the edge of the capfarthest from the pivot pin 85 and then progressively the remainder ofthe cap 47. This progressive removal requires a smaller amount of forceat any one time and decreases the possibility that any portion of thefill port assembly 37 will be torn or permanently distorted. Once thecap 47 is removed, the cap remover 80 is pivoted to its rest positionabove the top surface 86 of the control unit 30 away from the container11 and operative components of the fill apparatus.

The fill switch 184 on the control box 171 is then momentarily depressedto complete a circuit through conduct-or 185 to the relay CR (FIG. 16).Energization of the relay CR immediately closes the normally open switchCR1 in the conductor 187 in parallel with the fill switch 184 tomaintain energization of the relay CR after the fill switch 184 isreleased. Simultaneously therewith, the normally open relay CR2 in theconductor 187 is closed to energize the solenoid 1'90 and move thecontrol valve 191 to the left, as viewed in FIG. 15, against the bias ofthe spring 192 to its fill position.

In this fill position, the air pressure from the line 193 (FIG. 15) isconnected to the line 194 so that air is communicated to the valves 195and 196 and the upper chamber 198 of the cylinder 166 which raises andlowers the fill valve 32. Pressurization of the chamber 198 causes thepiston 2011 to move downwardly to move the rod 201 and the L-shapedmember 33 connected thereto downwardly to lower the fill valve 32 sothat the lower end of the tube 122 positions the outlet opening in theinterior of the male member 42 which is being held in position on thebracket 35. As the tube 122 reaches this position, it also moves thevalve 195 downwardly as shown in FIG. 15, to connect the air pressure inline 283 to the actuator 204 of the valve 196 through the line 206 tomove this valve to the left as viewed in FIG. 15, against the bias ofthe spring. 207. The air pressure immediately flows through line 268from the line 194 to the fill valve cylinder 121 causing the piston rod115 and valve member 128 to be moved upwardly against the bias of thespring 117 so that milk or other liquid may flow through the tube 122and into the liner 38 of the container 11.

The desired volume of liquid in the container 11 is reached when thescale indicator 18 contacts and opens the electrical switch 209 inconductor causing the relay CR to be deenergized and the contact CR2 tobe opened. The solenoid is thus deenergized so that the spring 192returns the control valve 191 to the right, as viewed in FIG. 15, to itsinactive position. The action can also be effected in an emergency byclosing the push button switch 170a in line 185. The line 194 is thusconnected to the atmosphere so that the spring 207 returns the valve 192to the right to again connect the line 208 and the chamber 121 of theair cylinder 111 to the atmosphere and permitting the spring 117 toextend the piston rod 115 and valve member 138. This action seats thevalve member 138 on its seat 164 and terminates flow through the tube122. In this position, the valve 191 connects the lines 193 and 210 topressurize the lower chamber 211 of the actuator 166 causing the fillvalve 32 to be moved upwardly to its retracted position spaced from thecontainer 11.

The flow control valves 212 and 213 are provided in the lines 194 and210 to regulate the flow of air to the actuator 166 thereby controllingthe rate of the raising and lowering operation of the fill valve 32 sothat the valve is closed before the valve 32 begins to move upwardly.The stop switch 170a is provided in the conductor 185 for effecting thesame operation as occurs when the scale indicator switch 209 is actuatedto open the circuit through conductor 185 so that the filling operationmay be terminated in an emergency or for any other reason.

The cap remover 89 with the cap 47 therein is then pivoted to a positiondirectly above the port assembly 37 which is held in the bracket andthen is pivoted downwardly so that one edge of the cap 47 is forced ontothe male member 42, and progressively the remaining portion of the cap47 is forced in to a locked position on the male member 42. Thisprogressive removal and replacement of the cap 47 is facilitated by theresil ence of the plastic material from which the cap 47 and male member42 are constructed. Then the cap remover St) is pivoted in a horizontalplane to disengage the cap 47 from the slot 9t). The top of thecontainer 11 is then secured in place with the port assembly 37 in thekeyhole slot 65 so that the container is ready for storage, or shipment,as desired. The fill assembly is now ready to repeat the cycle to fillanother of the containers ll.

The invention has thus provided improved process and apparatus forfilling a milk container of the type described and covered in theaforesaid copending application. A bracket holds the port assembly inposition for easy removal of the cap by the cap remover after which theliner is automatically filled in response to the actuation of a pushbutton switch. When the container is filled the flow is automaticallyterminated and the fill valve retracted, after which the cap is easilyreplaced by the cap remover.

While the method herein described, and the form of apparatus forcarrying this method into effect, constitute preferred embodiments ofthe invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limitedto this precise method and form of apparatus, and that changes may bemade in either without departing from the scope of the invention whichis defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A method of filling a milk container having a plastic liner bagtherein with a retainer secured thereto defining a liquid inlet and aresilient cap removably held on the retainer comprising, the steps oftemporarily securing said retainer to a bracket having a fixed position,engaging a radial flange on said cap by moving a pivot tool about afirst axis parallel to and oifset laterally from the axis of saidretainer, removing said cap from said retainer by pivoting said toolabout a second axis perpendicular to the axis of said retainer andoffset laterally therefrom, pivoting said tool with the cap thereinabout said first axis to a retracted position, filling said liner untila presoribed volume of liquid is in said liner, replacing said cap bymovng said tool with said cap thereon to a position above said retainerand then pivoting said tool downwardly to engage progressively said capwith said retainer, and then removing said tool from said cap by movingthe same about said first axis.

2. A method of filling a milk container having a plastic liner bagtherein with a retainer secured thereto defining a liquid inlet and aresilient cap removably held on the retainer cOmprising, the steps oftemporarily securing said retainer to a bracket having a fixed position,engaging a radial flange on said cap by moving a pivot tool about afirst axis parallel to and offset laterally from the axis of saidretainer, removing said cap from said retainer by pivoting said toolabout a second axis perpendicular to the axis of said retainer andoffset laterally therefrom, filling said liner, replacing said cap bymoving said tool with said ca thereon to a position above said retainerand then pivoting said tool downwardly to engage said cap with saidretainer, and then removing said tool from said cap by moving the sameabout said first axis.

3. A method of filling a plastic liner bag therein and having afrustoconical retainer secured thereto defining a liquid inlet, aresilient cap removably held on the retainer and having a frustoconicalside wall for engaging the outer surface of the retainer, the cap andretainer having complementary circumferential groove and projections forsecuring the same together, comprising the steps of temporarily securingsaid retainer to a bracket having a fixed position, engaging said cap bymoving a pivot tool about a first axis parallel to and offset laterallyfrom the axis of said retainer, removing said cap from said retainer bypivoting said tool about a second axis perpendicular to the axis of saidretainer and offset laterally therefrom to separate the groove andprojection farthest from said first axis and progressively the remainingportion of said groove and projection to remove said cap from saidretainer, pivoting said tool with the cap therein about said first axisto a retracted position, filling the bag until a prescribed volume ofliquid is in the bag, replacing said cap by moving said tool with saidcap therein to a position above said retainer and then pivoting saidtool downwardly to engage progressively said groove and projectionnearest said first axis to replace said cap on said retainer, and thenremoving said tool from said cap by moving the same about said firstaxis.

4. A method of filling a container having a frustoconical retainersecured thereto defining an inlet, a resilient cap removably held on theretainer and having a frustoconical side wall for engaging the outersurface of the retainer, the cap and retainer having complementarycircumferential groove and projections for securing the same together,comprising the steps of temporarily securing said retainer to a brackethaving a fixed position, engaging said cap by moving a pivot tool abouta first axis parallel to and offset laterally from the axis of saidretainer, removing said cap from said retainer by pivoting said toolabout a second axis perpendicular to the axis of said retainer andoffset laterally therefrom to separate the groove and projectionfarthest from said first axis and progressively the remaining portionsof said groove and projection to remove said cap from said retainer,pivoting said tool with the cap therein about said first axis to aretracted position, and replacing said cap by moving said tool with saidcap thereon to a position above said retainer and then pivoting saidtool downwardly to engage progressively said groove and projection toreplace said cap on said retainer.

5. Sanitary apparatus for filling a milk container or the like having aninlet port member with a resilient cap thereon comprising, a housing,scale means on housing for supporting the container, bracket means forengaging and holding the inlet port member to position the same in apreset position, cap remover means on said frame for removing andreplacing said cap on the inlet port member while the latter is held bysaid bracket means, reciprocable valve means movable to an extendedposition in close cooperation with said bracket means for insertion intosaid port member when said cap is removed and to a retracted positionspaced from said bracket, a valve member in said valve means forconnecting a source of liquid supply to the interior of said containerwhen said valve means is in said extended position, said scale meanssensing when a predetermined amount of liquid is in said container toclose sequentially said valve member and move said valve means to saidretracted position.

6. Apparatus for removing a resilient plastic cap hav" ing a flat topand a peripheral flange from a tubular retainer, the cap and retainerhaving circumferentially engaging portions which mate to lock the capand retainer together, comprising a frame, bracket means on said framefor holding said retainer securely in position, a handle having a pivotconnection to said frame, said connection being spaced a predetermineddistance from said bracket for pivotal movement of said handle about afirst axis parallel to the axis of the cap and a second axisperpendicular to the axis of said cap, and means defining a recess insaid handle for engaging the flange on the cap by pivotal movement aboutsaid first axis, said handle removing the cap from the retainer whenpivoted about said second axis away from the retainer by firstseparating the engaging portions farthest from said pivot connection andprogressively separating the portions closer to said pivot connection assaid handle is moved away from the retainer.

7. Apparatus for removing a resilient plastic cap having a flat top anda peripheral flange from a tubular retainer, the cap and retainer havingcircumferentially engaging portions which mate to lock the cap andretainer together, comprising a frame, bracket means on said frame forholding said retainer securely in position, a handle having a universalpivot connection to said frame, said connection being spaced apredetermined distance from said bracket for pivotal movement of saidhandle about a first axis parallel to the axis of the cap and a secondaxis perpendicular to the axis of said cap, and means defining a slot insaid handle for engaging the above cap below the flange when said handleis moved about said first axis, said handle removing the cap from theretainer when pivoted about said second axis away from the retainer byfirst separating the engaging portions farthest from said pivotconnection and progressively separating the portions closer to saidpivot connection as said handle is moved away from the retainer.

8. Sanitary apparatus for filling a plastic bag having a semi-rigidinlet port member wit-h a lower portion secured to a plastic bag and apair of spaced radially outwardly extending flanges on the lower portionexterior of the bag, a resilient cap engaging the port for closing andsealing the bag and having a flat top with a radial outwardly extendingperipheral flange, said apparatus comprising a housing, scale means onhousing for supporting the container, bracket means for engaging andholding the inlet port member between the spaced flanges to position thesame in a preset position, cap remover means on said frame for engagingthe flange on the cap to remove and replace the cap on the inlet portmember while the latter is held by said bracket means, reciprocablevalve means movable to an extended position in close cooperation withsaid bracket means for insertion into said port member when said cap isremoved and to a retracted position spaced from said bracket, a valvemember in said valve means for connecting a source of liquid supply tothe interior of said bag when said valve means is in said extendedposition, said scale means sensing when a predetermined amount of liquidis in said bag to close sequentially said valve member and move saidvalve means to said retracted position.

9. Sanitary apparatus for filling a container having a resilient inletport member with a lower portion secured to the container and a pair ofspaced radially outwardly extending flanges on the lower portionexterior of the container, a resilient cap engaging the port for closingand sealing the container and having a flat top with a radial outwardlyextending peripheral flange, said ap paratus comprising a housing,bracket means for engaging and holding the inlet port member between thespaced flanges to position the same in a preset position, locking meansfor releasably holding the port member on said bracket means, auniversal pivot connection on said housing, a cap remover having one endsecured to said pivot connection for movement in a first directionparallel to the flat top of the cap when the cap is secured on the portmember and in a second direction perpendicular to said first direction,and means defining a slot in said cap remover for engaging the flange onthe cap while the port member is held in said bracket and when saidremover is moved in said first direction, said cap remover adapted toremove and replace the cap on the inlet port member when said capremover is moved in said second direction.

10. Sanitary apparatus for filling a container having a resilent inletport member with a lower portion secured to the container and a pair ofspaced radially outwardly extending flanges on the lower portionexterior of the container, a resilient cap engaging the port for closingand sealing the container and having a flat top with a radial outwardlyextending peripheral flange, said apparatus comprising a housing,bracket means for engaging and holding the inlet port member between thespaced flanges to position the same in a preset position, locking meansfor releasably holding the port member on said bracket means, auniversal pivot connection on said housing, a cap remover having one endsecured to said pivot connection for movement in a first directionparallel to the fiat top of the cap when the cap is secured on the portmember and in a second direction perpendicular to said first direction,and said cap remover having a central body portion with a recess thereinof a width greater than the diameter of the flat top of the cap, a platesecured to said body member over said recess and having an open endedslot therein slightly greater in width than the diameter of the capimmediately below the flange, said slot having a distance between saidrecess and the closest part of said plate equal to or slightly greaterthan the thickness of the flange, said slot adapted to engage the flangeon the cap while the port member is held in said bracket and when saidremover is moved in said first direction, said cap remover adapted toremove and replace the cap on the inlet port member when said capremover is moved in said second direction.

11. Apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein said central body portionis provided with an open ended slot for accommodating a cap having adischarge tube extending from the flat top thereof.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,106,230=10/1-963 Laun 53-37 X 3,219,240 I l/196 5 Campbell 5337 X 3,242,9513/1966 Curie et al. 53-37 X TRAVIS S. McGEHEE, Primary Examiner.

2. A METHOD OF FILLING A MILK CONTAINER HAVING A PLASTIC LINER BAGTHEREIN WITH A RETAINER SECURED THERETO DEFINING A LIQUID INLET AND ARESILIENT CAP REMOVABLY HELD ON THE RETAINER COMPRISING, THE STEPS OFTEMPORARILY SECURING SAID RETAINER TO A BRACKET HAVING A FIXED POSITION,ENGAGING A RADIAL FLANGE ON SAID CAP BY MOVING A PIVOT TOOL ABOUT AFIRST AXIS PARALLEL TO AND OFFSET LATERALLY FROM THE AXIS OF SAIDRETAINER, REMOVING SAID CAP FROM SAID RETAINER BY PIVOTING SAID TOOLABOUT A SECOND AXIS PERPENDICULAR TO THE AXIS OF SAID RETAINER ANDOFFSET LATERALLY THERFROM, FILLING SAID LINER, REPLACING SAID CAP BYMOVING SAID TOOL WITH SAID CAP THEREON TO A POSITION ABOVE SAID RETAINERAND THEN PIVOTING SAID TOOL DOWNWARDLY TO ENGAGE SAID CAP WITH SAIDRETAINER, AND THEN REMOVING SAID TOOL FROM SAID CAP BY MOVING THE SAMEABOUT SAID FIRST AXIS.